Corcoran Gallery Plan Draws Objections, Support

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group working to stop the Corcoran Gallery of Art and its college from merging with two larger institutions has filed an objection in D.C. Superior Court.

Lawyers for the nonprofit Save the Corcoran filed a complaint Wednesday seeking to intervene in the museum's effort to merge with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University. A deal finalized in May is subject to court approval.

The complaint accuses Corcoran trustees of financial mismanagement, waste and negligence. The plaintiffs in the complaint are students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and members of the museum.

Also Wednesday, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area representing 13 schools filed a letter of support with the D.C. attorney general, saying the merger would save the college and a significant art collection.